Company Offers Job Security
In the small community of Perry, one employer has made a huge
commitment to employing individuals with disabilities. Martin Electronics is a
munitions assembly plant. About four percent of Martin Electronics' workforce
has a disability. When you consider the company employs 250 people, that is an
impressive statistic.
Two women with disabilities work side by side and are fixtures at the plant.
Geneva Moore and Alma Candis work on the safety clip assembly line for hand
grenades. The company builds practice fuses that are used in training soldiers.
Moore has been with Martin Electronics for 22 years, and Candis has been there
for 16 years. Their supervisor, Carolyn Foskey, is pleased with their history
of work performance.
"They are both good employees and perform well," Foskey says. "They are
dependable and do what you ask of them."
October is Disability Employment Awareness Month. Florida's Agency for Persons
with Disabilities (APD) is highlighting the contributions of people with
disabilities to the workforce.
Moore says, "I feel good about earning a paycheck and making some money."
andis enjoys the opportunity to work. "Having a job gets me out of the house
and around people," says Candis. "I have enjoyed working at Martin Electronics
for 16 years and like all the people I work with."
The two women say they feel like part of a team and have good camaraderie at
work.
Martin Electronics' Vice President of Administration Suzanne Sleigher says
people with disabilities make great employees.
"They are extremely reliable," Sleigher says. "They get along well with
everyone. It just makes good business sense to include them as part of your
workforce. We have turnover here, but the employees with disabilities stay
because they want to work and are committed to the company."
APD supports people with developmental disabilities to live, learn, and work in their communities. For more information about the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, visit www.apdcares.org or call toll-free 1- 866-APD-CARES (1-866-273-2273).
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